Hiding Fields from Applications

You may find it useful to hide dataset fields that are not typically used for visualizations, or hide them in order to prevent unintended bias in visualizations.

The following steps demonstrate how to prevent data fields from appearing in visualizations and applications of dataset World Life Expectancy [data source samples.world_life_expectancy]. The fields comments, lat, and lng are empty, so they are good candidates for this operation.

  1. On the main navigation bar, click Data.

    Click DATA on main nav

    The Data view appears, open on the Datasets tab.

    Main landing page of DATA
  2. In the left navigation menu, click samples.
  3. In the Datasets area, select World Life Expectancy (samples.world_life_expectancy).

    selecting a dataset
    Selecting Dataset 'World Life Expectancy'
  4. In the Dataset Detail menu, select Fields.

    detail of 'World Life Expectancy'
    Dataset Detail for 'World Life Expectancy'
  5. In the Fields interface, select Edit Field.

    Editing Fields of Dataset 'World Life Expectancy'
    Editing the Fields of Dataset 'World Life Expectancy'
  6. Under Dimensions, find the field comments.
  7. Click (eye) icon on the comments line.

    Turning off the visibility of a field
    Turning Off the Visibility of a Field in a Dataset
  8. Note that the icon next to the comment field changed to (slashed eye).

    Field Visibility is off
    Confirming that a Field is Hidden
  9. Under Measures, find the fields lat and lng, and hide them.

    hiding other fields
    Hiding Other Fields
  10. Click Save.

  11. Note that in the updated Fields interface, Dimensions table has a total of 11 fields and Measures table lists a total of 7 fields, as before

    Fields interface includes hidden fields
    Dataset Fields Interface Includes Hidden Fields
  12. However, when using Visual Designer, the hidden fields do not show.

    • The number of Dimensions is 11. This is calculated as All Dimensions (11) - Hidden Dimensions (1) + Segment (1).
    • The number of Measures is 6. This is calculated as All Measures (7) - Hidden Measures (2) + Record Count (1).
    Visual Builder does not show hidden fields
    Visual Builder Without Hidden Fields

Note that the field visibility can be changed in the Edit Field Paramters window modal.